Friends of Hagg Wood
The City of York Council has now confirmed that it is sending our public footpath applications for access to Hagg Wood from Intake Lane on to the Planning Inspectorate. If you have not already done so, this makes it even more important that you contact us via our website https://haggwood.wordpress.com/contact/ if you have used either of these paths in the past, so that we have the strongest possible evidence of their public use.
The coronavirus pandemic has underlined the importance of daily exercise for everyone’s physical and mental health. Public footpaths have long provided an easily accessible way for many people to be able to enjoy the physical and mental refreshment that a walk in the countryside can provide. Preserving such future access, for both young and old, able and less able, to the delights of our local Community Woodland, such as its fine display of bluebells, primroses and other Spring flowers, reflects our own value system that we must defend. So please do help us achieve this desirable goal.
Birds fortunately have wings of their own that can surmount unnecessary imposed barriers, and the many improvements made to Hagg Wood over the last twenty years have underpinned an increasingly impressive variety of birdlife. Looking back over my notes from last year’s Dawn Chorus I see that it featured Spring migrants such as Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Blackcap as well as resident Treecreeper, Robin, Wren and Greater Spotted Woodpecker. This is very visual, audible and measurable evidence of the value of the physical and financial effort put in by all our membership.
When we eventually resume our work in the wood we will continue to expand the biodiversity, improve the glades, maintain the paths, protect the precious bluebell area and keep the rhododendron at bay in at least part of the wood. Access may be problematic but we will still need everybody’s help to look after this woodland.